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Mike Norvell spotted visiting Vero Beach, Palm Beach County high schools

Florida State coach arrives by helicopter in pursuit of future Seminoles
Benjamin School Buccaneers football coach Eric Kresser drives Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell to helicopter in golf cart, Feb. 1, 2024
Posted at 3:02 PM, Feb 01, 2024
and last updated 2024-02-01 18:28:57-05

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Mike Norvell is back on the recruiting trail, which included some stops Thursday along the Treasure Coast and in Palm Beach County.

The Florida State football coach let his presence be known as he arrived at several Palm Beach County schools via helicopter.

Among his stops were the Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Santaluces Community High School in Lantana and Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach.

Norvell also paid a visit to four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford at Vero Beach High School.

WPTV was there as Norvell left Benjamin, where former Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis once starred for the Buccaneers.

"Anytime a head coach can come in, it makes you feel good like you're doing something right," Benjamin head coach Eric Kresser said.

Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell steps into helicopter as Benjamin Buccaneers football coach Eric Kresser drives away in golf cart, Feb. 1, 2024
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell steps into a waiting helicopter as Benjamin School football coach Eric Kresser drives away in his golf cart during a campus visit, Feb. 1, 2024, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

It wasn't Norvell's first visit, either. He made a similar appearance last season during the Seminoles' bye week.

Florida State started the 2023 season 13-0 but was left out of the College Football Playoff after a season-ending injury to Travis in November. The Seminoles were the first undefeated Power 5 conference champion to be denied a spot in the four-team playoff.

Amid a mass exodus of opt-outs and transfers, the Seminoles were blown out by Georgia 63-3 in the Orange Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the final Associated Press poll.

Norvell signed a contract extension after the season.

"He's doing big things up there and to have him come down and spend so much time with us, it really means a lot," Kresser said.

Kresser praised Norvell's "high character" and called him an "outstanding college football coach." That may come as a surprise to some considering Kresser was a quarterback for the Florida Gators in college.

WATCH: Ex-Gators QB, Benjamin coach Eric Kresser praises FSU coach Mike Norvell

Ex-Gators QB, Benjamin coach Eric Kresser praises FSU coach Mike Norvell

"I support all the Florida schools," Kresser said. "Obviously, I played for Florida for four years and, you know, I rock the Gator gear all the time, but, you know, I just want all our guys to be in the best situation possible. … To me, it's about people, not logos."

Norvell – along with practically every other college coach – is hoping to lure two-way Benjamin star Amaree Williams, who reclassified from the 2025 recruiting class to 2024.

Williams, who recently took a visit to Florida State's campus, was expected to make his decision this weekend.